That happened to me last year (blush) I forgot to account for a check I wrote, and they paid the largest first, and then force paid the smaller ones. I called when I discovered this and questioned them about it, and their answer was that they pay the largest first, assuming that the customer would want his housepayment paid rather than a check to the grocery store.
I don't know that I agree with this -- I'd rather call one company and apologize than call three.
I called when I discovered this and questioned them about it, and their answer was that they pay the largest first, assuming that the customer would want his housepayment paid rather than a check to the grocery store. That's a load of bull, some wiseguy with an MBA figured that one out. I've worked with banks for too long to give them the benefit of a doubt, that they are doing this for any other reason than to get more fees from the situation, given that they in most cases know the chronological order of the transactions and have already adjusted the available balance prior to posting.